The idea that comfy shoes can’t also be stylish is completely outdated.
These days, footwear designers are again and again proving that proper arch support and fashion-forward design can actually sit in the very same shoe – no clunky, orthotic look required.
The best comfortable shoe brands, according to The Weekly team:
- Bared: Mango Leather Chunky Sandals, $279
- Ecco: Metropole Seoul Women’s Leather Sandal, $249
- Birkenstock: Boston Soft Footbed Suede, $317
- Rothy’s: The Almond Mary Jane, $270
- Vivaia: Round-Toe Casual Sneakers, $268
But sorting through the options to find pairs that genuinely deliver on both is another story. To save you the trial-and-error (and inevitable blisters), we’ve polled our editors and writers to find those stylish-yet-supportive footwear labels we’re consistently shopping.
These are the brands that look after your soles and arches, while still doing serious heavy lifting in elevating your outfit.
Read: The most comfortable heels in Australia, rated by The Weekly team
Bared
Founded by Melbourne-based podiatrist Anna Baird, Bared Footwear is becoming one of Australia’s biggest fashion success stories, with the likes of Meryl Streep, Alix Earle and, most recently, Kylie Minogue spotted wearing their designs. The brand makes flats, heels, sandals, boots, sneakers and slippers, all with podiatrist-level support.
BARED
Mango Leather Chunky Sandals
BARED
Sunangel Leather Low Heels
BARED
Maleo Leather Loafers
BARED
Turnstone Leather Chunky Sandals
Ecco
Founded in Denmark in 1963 by a husband-and-wife duo, Ecco is on a mission to disrupt the footwear industry. Today, they make sneakers, flats and sandals, with ergonomic footbeds and shock-absorbing mid-soles. Each shoe is designed in a shape naturally contoured to your foot right out of the box, sparing you the dread of a harsh break-in period.
ECCO
Women’s Anine Ballet Flat
ECCO
Metropole Seoul Women’s Leather Sandal
ECCO
Astrid Wedge
ECCO
Soft 7 Women’s Leather Slip-In Sneaker
Dr Martens
Dr Martens was started in 1945 by a German doctor who wanted a comfortable pair of shoes after injuring his ankle. Using salvaged rubber to make an air-cushioned bouncing sole, he single-handedly revolutionised footwear. The brand soon became synonymous with the ‘90s grunge movement but has since evolved into a high-fashion staple, with boots, sandals, mules and loafers that bring an easy edge to any wardrobe.
DR MARTENS
8065 Mary Jane Smooth
DR MARTENS
Mayfare Loafer Arcadia
DR MARTENS
San Emboss Floral Crazy Horse Mule
DR MARTENS
Blaire 3 Strap Sandals
Birkenstock
Another German brand – they clearly take their foot health seriously – Birkenstock is a brand millions think of when they hear ‘ergonomic footwear’. Every shoe is built around a contoured cork-and-latex footbed that moulds to the unique shape of a foot over time. While the brand offers a wide range of silhouettes, the classic Arizona slide and Boston clog remain undisputed favourites.
BIRKENSTOCK
Arizona BirkiBuc
BIRKENSTOCK
Madrid Big Buckle
BIRKENSTOCK
Boston Soft Footbed Suede Narrow
BIRKENSTOCK
Gizeh Birko-Flor Regular Sandals
Hush Puppies
American label Hush Puppies was founded in 1958. By 1963, it was estimated that 1 in 10 American adults owned a pair. The brand makes loafers, boots, flats, sneakers, sandals, heels, slides and slippers with lightweight materials and patented Bounce foaming cushioning technology. They’re best known for their casual sneakers.
HUSH PUPPIES
The Block Heel
HUSH PUPPIES
Nessa
HUSH PUPPIES
Kettle
HUSH PUPPIES
Indie
Rothy’s
Favoured by Jennifer Lawrence, Meghan Markle and Charlize Theron, US brand Rothy’s makes flats, sneakers and loafers, using 3D-knit upcycled single-use plastic water bottles and ocean-bound marine plastics. The result is a range of fully machine-washable footwear that offers a zero-break-in fit and soft, cushioned footbeds from day one.
ROTHY’S
The Daily Driver
ROTHY’S
The Summer Sandal
ROTHY’S
The Point II
ROTHY’S
The Almond Mary Jane
Charles and Keith
Launched in 1996 by two brothers, Singaporean retailer Charles and Keith has been called the ‘Zara of shoes’ for its fast-fashion cadence, trendy styles and affordable prices. You can easily browse the entire range with ‘Shop by category’, ‘Shop by trends’ and ‘Shop by occasion’ sorting. Categories include pumps, ballet flats and espadrilles.
CHARLES AND KEITH
Sadira Satin Slingback Pumps
CHARLES AND KEITH
Faux Suede Crossover Toe-Ring Sandals
CHARLES AND KEITH
Women’s Feminine Heel Sandal
CHARLES AND KEITH
Women’s Georgie Sandal
Hoka
Hoka was founded in 2009 in the French Alps by two former employees of another sneaker brand: Salomon. Its name ‘hoka’ means ‘to fly over the earth’ in Maori – fitting considering the shoes were designed to make walking or running down steep mountain trails feel like flying. The brand sells sandals and slides, too, but sneakers are their bread and butter.
HOKA
Bondi 8 Caged
HOKA
Ora Recovery Slide 3
HOKA
Clifton 11
HOKA
Kaha 3 GTX
Frankie4
Like Bared, Frankie4 was founded by an Aussie podiatrist with the aim of making stylish shoes that didn’t compromise on foot health. Every pair features a patented, podiatrist-designed footbed engineered to support arches, cushion heels and realign your natural stride. You can easily sort through the collection by shoe style category and sub-categories.
FRANKIE4
Women’s Lottie Sandal
FRANKIE4
Women’s Isla Sandal
FRANKIE4
Women’s Noa Shoe
FRANKIE4
Ren Women’s Leather Flat Sandal
Vivaia
Vivaia was started in 2020 as the answer to why women’s dress shoes couldn’t be engineered with the comfort of sneakers. Shoes are crafted using recycled plastic bottles turned into knit-shape shoe uppers, as well as sustainable materials like sugarcane, rice husks and natural rubber. They’ve been worn by Katie Holmes, Alexa Chung and Selena Gomez. The Margot and Aria styles are two of their most popular.
VIVAIA
Square-Toe Icon Loafers
VIVAIA
Round-Toe Casual Sneakers
VIVAIA
Velvet Whipstitched Loafers
VIVAIA
Wide-Shaft Knee-High Boots
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